Its over

Another halloween gone. Damn, you would think that every child on the planet came to our door last night. They were all really cute and it was fun giving out candy.

On another note...



Here is the second Birch. This one is going WAY faster than the first one. I must have caught on (about time).

Knitting Day

This is the Mo Jacket by Fleece Artist that I am making for the shop. It is wonderfully soft mohair and really easy to knit up. I am really liking knitting on this.

Today is Halloween. It is my day off so I am going to sit around and (what else?) knit. I also want to cook up a spooky stew for Mr Yarn. He worked at the shop yesterday and it was really busy. I think it freaked him out. He did a great job though.

Hey!

Yesterday Brigid brought the donna hay magazine by the shop. We decided we wanted dinner from it. So, Brigid went to get the groceries while I closed up. We met at home and made a dinner. I love donna hay cookbooks and magazines.

Oh yeah, I finished the striped sweater. It is too big on me. I didn't get a picture of it but I will try to remember and bring it home. Not sure what I will start next at the shop. Probably another Fiber Fleece kit so that everyone can see what it looks like.

Rollin rollin rollin

Life goes on. Sometimes there just isn't all that much to say. Surprising that *I* would run out of banter, eh?



I started Birch II. The color is Majestic and it is beautiful. I mailed the other one off to Julie. Julie says that I never mention her in my blog. See Julie? I am talking about you and I bet that you don't even read this. If you do then you can see that I talk about you. You are my oldest friend and just as weird as *I* am. There I talked about you.

The real color of the Majestic doesn't show up. This is what it will look like when it is done but *I* won't look like that woman who is wearing it. I am not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing.



Hey, why is she standing in front of a trailer?

Know what time it is?

Time for the dog photo. Yep. Didn't have anything to show so Lily got "used" again. Don't feel sorry for her. While we were away Annie and Tim spoiled her rotten. She begs for bones all the time now and has threatened to run away to go live with them. Scary thing is she can walk to their house. Well for now she knows which side her bone is buttered. Give a dog an inch and they take a mile.

Home

We drove down to Southern California to see me friends Jean and Chloe. The drive was a bit much and as and we passed downtown L.A. the smog was evident. Yeah, I get homesick but I am glad I don't live there anymore.

During the trip I worked on this cool needle case from Fleece Artist. I just took on this line at the shop and love it



I actually finished the body of the bag on the the drive. Now I have to finish it and felt it.

While we were visiting friends Jean and I decided to drag Mr Yarn to Bed Bath and Beyond. I bought this cool coffee maker there.



It is called a Tassimo. It takes cartridges.



It is VERY cool. I am glad to be home.

Argh

Still dark outside, too early. Write more in a few days.

Bringin home the bacon

I didn't tell you about the bacon problem did I? Well here it goes. Last Xmas I bought Mr Yarn this Bacon of the Month Club (www.gratefulpalate.com). I thought it was cool. Ya know he is from Texas and has this thing for pork products. Bacon of the Month club promised a boutique kind of bacon from small places each month. So, one comes every month and it is pretty cool and we were eating them at a normal pace. Then all of a sudden in June 5 of them come at once. 5lbs of bacon. Each pound was different from the next but still it wasn't possible to keep up with it. They went into the freezer and the bacon of the month club stopped during summer months (they didn't want the bacon sitting on your porch when it was hot even if it was on ice). So I come home last night and it has started up again. We haven't even eaten the 5 others in the freezer. This is worse than the wine problem.

I have a hard life.

Just don't say anything

I did it again. I made these two sweaters and I don't like either one of them. What am I going to do? I have hid them from Mr. Yarn for a long time but I have to deal with them sooner or later. I suppose that I could just shove them in the basement, but one of these days I will have to clean that basement out. They are perfectly fine sweaters but just not right on me. The "I will never wear it" pile is getting bigger.

On the gossipy side of things...
Check this out. We shamed our neighbors (with the brand new yard) to clean up their act. They are getting a new fence put in. Would have been REAL special if they could have paid for half of the one that we put up between our two yards.


No such luck.

Almost done

I am almost done with Birch. When this one is finished I am doing another one in another color. Yes, I am crazy. I have so much stuff to knit on that I can't decide what I want to do first anymore. I think that after I finish the second Birch that I am going to be starting this



I have a bit of a phobia starting it though.

I love surprises!

I was minding my own business at the shop the other day when all of a sudden the mail lady brought me a package. I love surprises (good kind that is). I opened it up and lo and behold Crazy Aunt Purl had sent me goodies. Not only did she send me the "Go away BAD people" candle, but she sent me other cool stuff too.



I love it. Thanks CAP!!!

Then I forgot to show you all this stuffed animal that Brigid bought me when I was sick. It is THE softest thing in the world and you all know how I feel about sheep (well, maybe you didn't know, but I love sheep stuff).



Thanks Brig (even though you don't read my blog).

Knitting good and bad

Here is the top down sweater that I am knitting. Nancy dyed the yarn for me and I am doing a top down sweater out of it. It is coming out A-OK.

Now for the bad news...
I pulled "Fern" out last night and was thinking of working on it. I don't know what I was thinking when I put it away for a while. It is HUGE. I mean I know I wear everything oversized and have this really distorted body image, but this was HUGE. So, I am ripping it out and will do something else with the yarn.



The saddest part is that I had the back done and was almost done with the front. Good thing that I am a process knitter and knit for the love of knitting and not the finished good. Yeah, that is right. I don't need no stinkin finished item.

I forgot to bring it home

Ok, so I forgot to bring home the sweater I am knitting so that I can show it to you. I am sorry. I have lots on my mind. Too much on my mind. I am not even sure what that "lots" is but it is those little things that you know that you have to do and none of them apart are so big but all together they drive you crazy. I am crazy.

So you won't hate me I will show you another Halloween toy that Mr Yarn bought me. I love Halloween. I know I told you that already. Tomorrow? I swear I will bring home the sweater to take a picture of so that I can show you.

Oh well

Batteries are dead on the camera and I am afraid there isn't anything new to show anyhow. I am working on "Birch" and I am halfway done. I started another sweater at the shop. Nancy dyed the yarn for me and the sweater is going to be beautiful. I will post pictures tomorrow.

I had an idea

When Mr Yarn and I were in Washington we had a drink at the hotel we were staying at. It was pineapple infused vodka. The bartender made up batches of it in a jar just like the one above. So, I saw the jar at Sur la Table and got the idea that *I* wanted to make some of this. We ended up not buying the jar but buying the vodka and pineapple. Then I needed the jar. So, what did I do? I dragged Mr. Yarn to Pagano's (the best hardware store ever) and scouted out the exact jar. There was only ONE of them and it was on a high up shelf, but I got it! Sorta weird that it was there in the first place.

Finished SOMETHING!

See? I do finish some things. Here is the sweater that I did for a friends friend. I love it and wish I could keep it. Oh well.

Voila

Knitting! Can you believe it? I still knit. Yes indeedy this is Rowan's "Birch" in Kidsilk Haze color Grace. I swear this is one of the prettiest colors that I think they have come up with. Anyhow, I think I rip as much as I knit when I work on this. I also really have to get back to "Fern" and start working on that so I can wear it this winter.

Being sick and pathetic pays!

So as I sat at home sick and pathetic Annie and Tim brought me chicken soup. Annie knows her mom well and also bought me this to cheer me up



I love Halloween (can you tell?)

and Mr Yarn brought back lots of goodies from India

Here is some tea and silk he brought me



He brought me a bangle



and then he really floored me and brought me THIS



Believe me the picture does this pearl no justice. It is the most beautiful necklace I have ever had. I love pearls.

So, being sick paid off. I swear it will be back to knitting stuff tomorrow.

Someone hates me

This flu hangs on and on and...

I still feel like crap but I am crawling around the shop. No knit night tonight. Molly? Sarah? I hope you are reading this!

Be back later

Shoot me now

Sick as a dog. I have been sick for 3 days with the flu. Mr Yarn is in India and comes home tomorrow. I know I am feeling a little better because I can actually get out of bed to write this. More later.

Cloves!

Annie is the best! She bought me this box made out of cloves. I keep trying to figure out how they made this but can't figure it out. It is so cool. Thanks Annie, you are the best daughter. You rock (am I not suppose to say rock?).

Anyhow, now that I can knit on what I want, I am working on "Birch". I don't have enough to show you but you can see it here.

Peace

See this? It is my living room. Soon I will have it back without Fox News running, or storm watch of Texas, or endless football. I will be sitting in that chair back there that I haven't sat in for almost two weeks. I love my father in law, but I want my living room back. Saturday as Mr Yarn and my father in law are on planes one to Texas and one to India, I will be sitting in that chair with a drink bigger than my face and knitting.

Free at last

All I am going to say is I finished the sweater. Thank god.

No pictures

I don't have anything to blog about today. I guess I always can find things to yammer on about but I don't really have any pictures to show. I could show you a picture of my father-in-law that is still visiting but that just doesn't seem too exciting. I could show you the sweater I am test knitting for a yarn company but you can see that here (click on September on the left and then scroll down to the bottom of the window). So, the party went fine, the backyard is done, and everything is about back to normal. Well not quite. Mr. Yarn still goes to India and Dad leaves on Saturday. That is about the time I go out onto the new patio and have a few drinks.

I am a sucker

I bought a new Halloween toy. He is my new butler. He moves his eyes and he talks. He also moves his head and you can see his chest move when he breathes. I am going to bring him to the shop for kicks. I am the biggest sucker in the world when it comes to Halloween. This is my favorite of all though.

Fluff-o-rama

Other gals get flowers. *I* get cotton. My father-in-law is here and instead of bringing me flowers he brought me cotton. Does he know me or what? I think he wants me to take it to the shop but I love it too much and don't want anything to happen to it.

Don't touch my cotton.

Ta Da!

The yard is completely done. Mission accomplished. They finished it before the deadline (ok, except for the lights which have to wait until next weerk). The only thing left is the table and umbrella to be delivered tomorrow. Now what am I going to obsess on? Hmmm, I have to come up with something.

On the knitting front, I am almost done with the secret sweater. This is a good thing. If it weren't almost done I am afraid that I may have had another burning.

Ghost knitting

The sweater that I am ghost knitting for a friend that is suppose to be knitting it for a friend is almost done! I love it. I actually would like to keep it. Oh well.

So Mr Yarn turned 40 yesterday. Funny, he doesn't look any different.

Animals gone wild

Well it has happened. The animals have taken over the house. No, they haven't gone for the liquor cabinet or wine yet, but now they just seem to help themselves to other parts of the kitchen. Who would have thought that I would be living in a zoo. Granted I only have 1 dog and 2 cats, but the dog weighs 190lbs and the two cats may as well weigh that much too for how they get into everything.

Almost finished!

As you can see the backyard is almost done. Still some stuff to do (like sod) but it is almost there. Notice that Mr Yarn got his BBQ in a place of honor. After putting it together (only took 4 hours) it is a thing of beauty.

The sky is falling

When Evan came to visit he brought his mom a toy. I guess that since I have hung on to Hulk Hogan he thought he would give me a new one.



Evan gets promotional stuff for upcoming movies for his job. This one is Chicken Little. I hope that it isn't porno (just joking ya, Ev)

I've thought of that...

So Rabbitch suggested that I bring in some liquor to survive the next few weeks. That was the plan. I think that her plan is a good one. Just keep guzzling California's finest. Mr Yarn and I have reinforcements beyond my drinking capabilities. No, I don't share. Emergency supplies and all that ya know.



And there you have it. I called on Lily to help with this mornings public annoucment but she really has turned her back on me for good.

Hulk and the Burl

An update on the Redwood burl that is growing in the living room. You know my obsession with one day having a drive thru tree in Alameda. I am sure that the planning board will approve it.

The Hulk Hogan is there for point of reference of scale. Hulk is another one of those "Janis can't let go things". Evan gave me Hulk when he was about 6 years old. I have had hulk sitting either on my computer or next to my bed hanging off the light since then. Hulk has traveled far and wide with me.

On the knitting front...
I am almost done with the sweater that I am knitting for a friend. I am also almost done with the "secret" knitting project. I have the sleeves and the shell left to do. I would love to be knitting on something for myself but that isn't going to happen for a while. Mr Yarn's dad is coming to stay with us for 2 weeks. Heh heh...yeah, 2 weeks.

Goodbye roasted chicken

I use this showtime rotissierie like you can not believe. In case you didn't know this, I love to cook. I have lots of gadgets and kitchen goodies, but this is one of my favorites. My old boss Peg (who thought I was joking when I said I wanted this) got it for Mr. Yarn and me when we got married. It is almost 5 years old and it has bit the dust. Not surprising with how much I use it. So, we will have to bite the bullet and go get another one. Then again, with all the backyard stuff and the cost of that, maybe we should just BBQ everything from now on. BBQ sugar cookies! I may be on to something.

More yard!

Hey, notice the yarn and yard are only one letter away from each other and those are the two things I have been obsessing on. I am getting nervous that the yard will not be done by the 24th. I am also nervous that the "secret" project that I am working on is giving me trouble. Hmmm. Ok, so here is the progress on the yard and the plants sitting there waiting to get planted. Mr. Yarn and I bought Teak garden furniture yesterday. It is beautiful. For what it cost we better be sleeping on it as well.

Um, now the internets are against me

So, I tried to post a blog entry and picture from home this morning, and no such luck. My internet connection has decided "September has started off crappy for her, why don't we just jump in here and contribute". So here I am at the shop with no pictures to show you.

Wait, here is one I stole from Evan on Flickr.



He took this when he was here visiting.

I think the moon is out to get me

I was minding my own business when I glanced on over to my Clapotis (100% cashmere no less) and I saw this:



A honkin snag. Ya know, I can still wear it. It is still soft and beautiful, but it summed up how this month has been for me so far. The fact that I am calling it "this month" and we are only 7 days into it is not a good sign.

Changing the subject. . .

I knitted this 40's top while I was working for a Yarn shop. It was around 4 years ago. We used it as a sample for the shop and then I gave it to a coworkers granddaughter.



This sweater looks way cuter on than it does off. Also, I would do it in one color. We were trying to show off the yarn so I did it in two for this one.

Secrets and such

Yup, this is my knitting bag. I can't show what is in it because it isn't for me. I am knitting for someone else. I am almost done with one part of it which means that I really have been knitting.

So, "Mr. Yarn!" dropped the news on me that he has to go to India for work in a few weeks. Yeah, India. I was bummed out so Brigid brought me a "Oh, forget about it and cheer up gift"



How cute is that?

Evan is leaving

Evan was here this weekend. He is leaving today. I am sad. I hate that he only got to stay a couple of days.
Anyhow, we went to the race track (where else does a good mom take her son?) and we went to MoMa. Hey, culture and gambling go hand in hand.

Anyhow, not much to blog about for the last couple of days. Here is the backyard.

My house is the office now?

"Mr Yarn" came home safe and sound. So I get up this morning and my house has turned into "the office". "Mr Yarn" better known around some parts as "Mr Medicinal Chemist" is on a conference call and has my computer hooked up to his laptop. No blogging there. I am blogging from the Yarn! empire. No camera's, no tricks, no nothin to amuse you with from here. It is ok. I didn't have much to say or show you anyhow.

I really am knitting

I got the back of the sweater for a friend done. This sweater goes really fast and is really fun to knit. I am also knitting on "other" things and that is going well too.

Mr Yarn! comes home tonight. Thank god. The house is crumbling around me and the dog (right now she isn't Lily she is DOG) is getting on my nerves. I am sick of the dirt outside which isn't "the beautiful new backyard, but "the DIRT". Welcome home Mr. Yarn! I missed ya.